Spark gap type electric shock-producing prod

ABSTRACT

An electric shock-producing prod, usable by cattlemen, law enforcement officials, and others, wherein the electrical or electronic circuitry therein consists of a battery-powered oscillator having a coupled output provided with a seriesconnected spark gap. The spark gap is in series with a leg of the output step-up winding of the transformer used and the oscillator can and will continue to run with the electric-shock contacts of the prod in engagement with the intended, recalcitrant object. The oscillator has on-off switch. The oscillator continues to provide a series of pulses which continue during the time the prod is in electrical contact with the intended object.

United States Patent [1 1 Tingey et al.

[ NOV. 4, 1975 SPARK GAP TYPE ELECTRIC SHOCK-PRODUCING PROD [75]Inventors: Bruce K. Tingey; Robert Kent Howcroft, both of Orem, Utah[52] US. Cl 273/84; 231/2 E; 317/262 S [51] Int. Cl. F41B 15/04 [58]Field of Search 331/112; 317/262 S;

128/303.l8, 405, 404, 420, 419 S, 419 R; 273/84; 231/2 E, 2 R

Basic Electronics for Scientists, J. J. Brophy,

McGraw-Hill Book Co., N.Y., N.Y., pp. 347, 348.

Primary Examiner-Richard J. Apley Assistant ExaminerWilliam R. Browne[57] ABSTRACT An electric shock-producing prod, usable by cattlemen, lawenforcement officials, and others, wherein the electrical or electroniccircuitry therein consists of a battery-powered oscillator having acoupled output provided with a series-connected spark gap. The spark gapis in series with a leg of the output step-up winding of the transformerused and the oscillator can and will continue to run with theelectric-shock contacts of the prod in engagement with the intended,recalcitrant object. The oscillator has on-off switch. The oscillatorcontinues to provide a series of pulses which continue during the timethe prod is in electrical contact with the intended object.

7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures US. Patent Nov. 4, 1975 3,917,268

SPARK GAP TYPE ELECTRIC SHOCK-PRODUCING PROD The present inventionrelates to electrical shockproducing probes used by cattlemen, lawenforcement officials, and others, and, more particularly, to a new andimproved probe wherein, when the same is energized for free-running bythe actuation of a single switch, the same willcontinue to function eventhough the electrical probes of the unit are in engagement with theintended object.

Cattlemen, peace officers, and others have found it useful to have anelectrical shock-producing probe to urge recalcitrant cattle or otheranimals or even human beings into a desired activity. Certain prods ofthe past have incorporated electrical or electronic circuits wherein theactuation switch must be energized a series of times in order to providea series of electrical shocks.

The use of a oscillator in such a circuit presents certain problems,among which is the fact that when the probes or contacts touch an objecthaving a characteristic surface resistance, the impedance of the outputcircuit changes so as to affect deleteriously the operation of theoscillator. As a consequence the oscillators, if intended forfree-running, simply cease their operation.

What is needed, therefore, is the provision of an oscillator in ashock-producing probe wherein the operation of the oscillator isunaffected by contact by the shock probes with the intended object. Inthe present invention a single actuation of a switch, so as to turn onthe oscillator, is sufficient to retain the same in a continuousoperating condition even though the probes touch an intended animal, forexample, having a certain characteristic electrical surface resistance,but only provided there is a spark gap disposed in series with one ofthe leads coming from the step-up transformer winding of the unit. Ithas been found that the incorporation of a spark gap operateselectrically so as not to change the characteristic impedance of theoscillator circuit, reflected back, even though the shockproducingprobes are actually contacting the animal or human being.

The essence of the present invention, therefore, is the provision in theoutput circuit of a probe of a serially connected spark gap in thestep-up winding portion of a transformer having an oscillator input. Theoscillator, generally a blocking or free-running choke circuit, isgenerally conventional in form herein, but the step-up transformerincludes in its secondary winding circuit a series-connected spark gapdisposed within the lead path leading to a respective one of theshock-producing probes. It is the presence of this spark gap thatprecludes malfunction of the oscillator during operation of the unit.

Accordingly, a principle object of the present invention is to provide anew and improved shock-producing probe for cattlemen, peace officers,and the like.

A further object is to provide for a shock-producing prod a circuitincluding an oscillator having a transformer output circuit providedwith a series-connected spark gap. 8

An additional object is to provide a shock-producing prod which isconveniently packaged as an elongate unit having a self-containedcircuit which is easily manipulated both for use and for batteryreplacement.

The features of the present invention may best be understood byreference to the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an electrical circuit in a preferredembodiment of the present invention, and showing the series-connectedspark gap in the output circuit of the transformer used.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of a physical prod unit incorporating thecircuit of FIG. 1 by way of example; FIG. 2 represents a plan view ofthe unit.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the structure shown in FIG. 2 and isbroken away to show the packaged electronics and transformer of theunit.

FIG. 4 is a section taken along the line of 44 in FIG. 3.

The oscillator used, though not restricted to that shown, preferablytakes the form of a free-running, blocking oscillator selectively turnedon and off by a single on-off switch. Further, while the transformer ispreferably a closed core, multiple-winding transformer, it will beobvious that other types of transformers such as an auto-transformer maybe used. In any event, a step-up transformer is intended in order that aminimum power input will ensure the requisite final output voltageneeded to produce the electrical shock train intended.

In FIG. 1 circuit 10 includes transistor 11 provided with base 12,emitter 13, and collector l4. Transistor 11 preferably comprises agermanium PNP transistor such as RCA 2N301. Were a silicon transistorused here, much less spark would be developed at prongs 15 and 16,hereinafter fully described.

Base 12 is connected by lead 17 to junction 18, the latter serving as aconnection point or junction of seriesconnected resistors 19 and 20. Theremaining ends of these resistors are connected to junction 21 and alsoto the lower end 22 of primary winding 23 of the transformer 24. In apreferred embodiment of the invention resistors 19 and 20 can havevalues of 18K and 250 ohms, respectively. Leads 25 and 26 interconnectjunction point 21 with collector l4 and switch contact 27 of on-offswiitch 28, respectively. The arm 29 of switch 28 is connected to lead32' to battery terminal 30 in the manner illustrated. Battery terminal31 is connected by lead 32 to the upper end of primary winding 23.Primary winding 23 is tapped at 33 and at such tap is connected to lead34 leading and connecting to emitter 13. The turns ratio of windingsegments L1 to L2 of primary winding 23 may be of the order of 45 tothus, in example indicated, Ll will have 45 turns whereas L2, 100 turns.Secondary winding 35, however, will have from 5,000 to 6,000 turns. Thisis merely by way of example. Hence, the transformer 24 comprises astep-up transformer with preferably an iron, closed core as at 36. Sparkgap 37 may comprise an Admiral 62A2-l, or similar gap. These gaps aremade generally by simply forming a block of insulated plastic about awire and then slotting the plastic through the wire; spark gaps areconventionally used in television 'sets, for example. Battery 38 maycomprise a 10.5 volt dry cell battery, the polarity of which isindicated.

As seen, secondary winding 35 is connected by lead 38 to one side ofspark gap 37, and lead 39 interconnects the remaining end of secondarywinding 35 to spark probe 16. Lead 40 interconnects the remaining sideof spark gap 37 to the spark prong l5.

As to afore-described details of the circuit as shown in FIG. 1, FIGS.2-4 will be discussed. FIGS. 2-4 represent a physical embodiment of thestructure, illustrated in the fonnation of an elongate cattle probe inone embodiment of the invention.

In FIGS. 2 and 4 the circuitry may be easily miniaturized by knowntechniques and be disposed adjacent switch 28. A series of 1 /2 volt orother dry cell batteries B may be disposed end-to-end in seriesrelationship to form the battery 38. Transformer 24 is shown centrallymounted in the structure by attachment means 41 and 42. The entirestructure may be a molded or otherwise include fabricated plastic case43' having a batteryreceiving opening 44 over which is pressed a cover45. The latter may comprise hemi-cylindrical segment having outwardlyextending detent flanges 46 and 47 overlapping horizontal beads 48 and49 in the housing structure 43. Thus, all the parts may be easily moldedin place, with the housing 43 including a central cavity 38 forreceiving the series of batteries B as aforesaid. These batteries may bespring loaded by a spring S in the usual manner, such as in connectionwith flashlights. Leads 39 and 40 may be molded into the plastic case 43to be connected to prongs and 16.

With respect to the circuit of FIG. 1, jumper wire J may connect thelower ends of windings 23 and 35 so as to eliminate inter-windingsparks. This is shown by jumper wire J connecting between junctionpoints J1 and J2.

Portion H of housing 43 comprises a handle portion, whereas theelongated extension portion P leading forwardly from the transformerterminates in shock probes 15 and 16.

The operation of the invention is as follows. Reference is now made toFIG. 1 wherein the circuitry to the left of the iron core depiction at36 comprises a blocking oscillator, also known as a ringing-chokeconverter. The blocking oscillator is a well-known device fullydescribed in the literature as, by way of example, the standard textFunctional Circuits and Oscillators by Reich, Van Nostrand seriespublished in 1961 at page 274 et seq. Detailed descriptions of suchoscillators, including the present transistorized type, may be found atpage 202 of Power Supplies for Electronic Equipment, published byLeonary Hill, and authored by Nowicki, 1971. See also the followingreferences: T. Konopinski, 1962, The Influence of Transfonner Losses onthe Operation of Ringing Choke Transistor Converters, Direct Current,February, pp. 55-8, and T. Konopinski, 1959, Load Characteristics ofTransistor Converter, Prace Inst. Tele-I Radiotech., Vol. 3, pp. 87-96.Such oscillators, likewise ringing choke converters, may be providedstarting bias in the provision of resistors 19 and 20. An additionalresistor, not shown, may be added in the emitter circuit includingemitter 13, there be used to stabilize oscillation as desired. Suchoscillators, termed relaxation oscillators, generate a series ofrectangular pulses of large amplitude and duration, which may range froma fraction of a micro-second to several hundred micro-seconds, can begenerated, as desired, by the-feedback circuit utilized.

The crux of the invention involves the use, with the oscillator, of astep-up transformer circuit as at the right-hand side of FIG. 1including spark gap 37. Where the spark gap is not included in seriesbetween prong l5 and secondary winding 35, then it has been found thatthe touching of the probes l5 and 16 against a recalcitrant cow, forexample, will result in a change of impedance reflected back to theoscillator circuit, which will result in an interruption or stopping ofthe oscillation train of pulses thereat.

FIGS. 2-4 illustrate a physical embodiment of the circuits of FIG. 1wherein an actual elongate cattle probe may be had. In the drawings inFIGS. 24 there is shown a housing 43 that includes handle H and alsoelongate portion P terminating in probes l5 and 16. The insulator I maybe disposed in the right tip of the forwardly extending portion P inFIG. 2. Portion I may be made of any insulative material, as may alsohousing 43. Circuit 10 includes switch 28, see FIG. 3, and the housingmay be hollow to receive the batteries B in series as illustrated inFIG. 3. A spring S may be supplied much as in the case of a flashlight,with leads 32 and 32' connecting to the battery to the circuit 10.Transformer 24 and switch 28 are all so illustrated in FIG. 3.

To enclose the series of batteries there may be provided a cover 45having formed snap-type flanges or margins 46 and 47. These will loopover horizontal beads 48 and 49 as shown in FIG. 4.

The structure of FIGS. 2-4, as contain the circuit of FIG. 1, operatesas follows. When the batteries B are disposed within opening 38, thencover 45 is installed as per FIG. 4 and the device is ready for use. Theuser merely grasps the handle H and closes the normallyopen switch 38.The switch may be either of the very simple type, i.e. singlepole,single-throw, so that the thumb remains on the switch while the probe isused. Alternatively, of course, there may be bi-stable or other types ofswitches used which do not require the application of a continuous thumbpressure in order to close, and releasably remain closed, the circuit ofa transistor alone in FIG. 1. In any event, the oscillator operates togive a train of sharp-spaced pulses of large voltage magnitude,amplified by the step-up character of transformer 24. These pulses areapplied to probes 15 and 16 by a spark gap 37. The spark gap is includedin the circuit, again, so that the lower impedance that results, throughconnecting the probes 15 and 16 to the cattle hide, will not bereflected back so as to interrupt the operation of the oscillator.Rather, incorporation of the spark gap in the circuit as shown ensuresthe continuous series of shocks to be applied to any recalcitrant animalso long as the switch 28 remains closed.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a new and useful circuit andembodiment thereof forming a cattle probe or suitable for other uses asin riot control work and so forth.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art the variouschanges and modifications which may be made without departing from theessential features of the present invention and, therefore, the aim inthe appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications asfall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. An electrical shock-producing prod including, in combination: anoscillator means for producing a train of pulses; switch means coupledto said oscillator means for selectively turning said oscillator tofreerunning and also off conditions; battery means coupled to saidoscillator means for powering the same; a transformer winding meanscoupled to said oscillator means for amplifying said pulses; spark gapmeans for cataclysmically conducting high-potential electrons across thegap thereof; and mutually spaced probes coupled across said transformerwinding means, said spark gap means being serially interposed betweenone of said probes and said transformer winding means.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said oscillator means comprises atransistorized blocking oscillator.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said oscillator means comprises atransistorized blocking oscillator having an output step-up transformer,said step-up transformer including an output winding comprising saidtransformer winding means and coupled to said probes.

4. The structure of claim 1 wherein said prod includes a housing havinga handle and also an elongate portion, forwardly extending from saidhandle, and having an insulative end, said probes being mounted means.

7. The structure of claim 4 wherein said transformer winding means isencased within said housing intermediate said handle and said elongateportion.

1. An electrical shock-producing prod including, in combination: anoscillator means for producing a train of pulses; switch means coupledto said oscillator means for selectively turning said oscillator tofree-running and also off conditions; battery means coupled to saidoscillator means for powering the same; a transformer winding meanscoupled to said oscillator means for amplifying said pulses; spark gapmeans for cataclysmically conducting high-potential electrons across thegap thereof; and mutually spaced probes coupled across said transformerwinding means, said spark gap means being serially interposed betweenone of said probes and said transformer winding means.
 2. Thecombination of claim 1 wherein said oscillator means comprises atransistorized blocking oscillator.
 3. The combination of claim 1wherein said oscillator means comprises a transistorized blockingoscillator having an output step-up transformer, said step-uptransformer including an output winding comprising said transformerwinding means and coupled to said probes.
 4. The structure Of claim 1wherein said prod includes a housing having a handle and also anelongate portion, forwardly extending from said handle, and having aninsulative end, said probes being mounted proximate and extendingforwardly of said end, said elongate portion including a cavity, saidbattery means comprising a series of axially aligned batteriesoperatively contacting one another, disposed in said cavity, andprovided with means for coupling to said oscillator means.
 5. Acombination of claim 4 wherein said switch means is physically andaccessibly disposed proximate said handle.
 6. The structure of claim 4wherein said prod includes an elongate cover releasably disposed oversaid cavity, whereby to withdrawably cover said battery means.
 7. Thestructure of claim 4 wherein said transformer winding means is encasedwithin said housing intermediate said handle and said elongate portion.